Container



W. A. CLANON CONTAINER Filed Dec. 7, 1940 ZI W" Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CQNTAINER William A. Clarion, Detroit, Mich assixnor to The American Paper Bottle Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 7, 1940, Serial No. 369,085

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to containers and particularly to paper containers of the self-supporting type designed and intended for use in the packaging of commodities generally but especially for use in the packaging of food products of perishable nature which must be kept in sanitary condition until consumed.

A most satisfactory type of paper container, primarily intended for use in the packaging and distribution of milk and milk products is disclosed in Patent 2,047,891, granted July 14, 1936, in the name of Henry T. Scott. The container which comprises the subject matter of the present application is in all major respects identical with the container disclosed and claimed in the patent mentioned, but its construction has been changed or modified to facilitate access to the interior of the container, the purpose being to enable the purchaser of a packaged commodity which is not of liquid or flowable character to readily remove such material or commodity from the container. Thus, a food product which is now widely sold in paper containers, and which is commonly designated "cottage cheese, has a semi-solid consistency which requires it to be removed from such containers by means of spoons or the like, being too stiif to flow through a relatively small aperture which would easily suffice as a pouring spout for milk.

To most conveniently remove products of such consistency, the entire top of the container should be displaceable, thus making it possible for the consumer to insert a large spoon and to remove any desired proportion of the contents of the container. Inasmuch as, in the usual case, only a portion of the contents of such a container is removed at one time, it is desirable that the top or end closure be hingedly connected to the body of the container so that it may. not become separated therefrom but may be rocked from closed to open position, and in the reverse direction, about a connecting strip or web which constitutes a hinge.

In accordance with the present invention the top or end closure comprises an integral portion of the container, being attached thereto at spaced points along what may be designated a line of severance, by relatively weak tongues or bridging elements which alternate with incisions, the line of incisions extending from one end of the hinge strip around the container to the other end of the hinge strip. Save only at the hinge, therefore, the top is weakly secured to the container body and the consumer may readily tear or break these relatively weak attachment or bridging elements, thus making it possible to swing back the top closure and spoon out or otherwise remove the contents. To facilitate separation of the top closure from the body, however, the top is provided with a tearing tab which is connected thereto at a place diametrically opposite the hinge, the tearing tab normally occupying a notch formed in the adjacent upper edge of the body portion of the container and the edges of the tearing tab being lightly connected to such body portion, the tab as a matter of fact being cut from a container body panel when the blank from which the container is made is originally fabricated. Severance of the top from the body, except at the hinge, is greatly facilitated by initiating the tearing operation by lifting the tab described and, after this is done, further separation of the top closure from the body may easily be effected by pulling the top closure upwardly in such manner that the spaced separating tongues or bridging elements are successively broken. If desired, an instrument such as a knife may be employed to assist in the separation of the top and body along the line of severance but this is generally not necessary the container having been designed primarily so that the top portion may be severed and turned back with the aid of the hands only. A preferred embodiment of the improved container is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows in plan a blank of the type preferably employed in the fabrication of the container;

Figure 2 shows a completed container in perspective;

Figure 3 is a side view of the upper portion of a completed container, partially broken away, showing in full lines the top or end closure in its open position and in dotted lines the end closure in a raised position;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a container of the type shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, but in which the grasping tab has a somewhat different'configuration; and

Figure 5 is a partial section on the line 5- of Figure 4.

The container blank shown in Figure 1 comprises a sheet of paper of suitable character and thickness which is divided by incisions and scorings into panels, the four rectangular panels A, and end flange F, bein relatively folded in the container forming operation to form the tubular body of the container, which is generally indicated at Ill in Figure 2. The flaps B are relatively folded to form a single flat bottom for the container body and the top panels 0, some of which are rectangular and some of which are triangulanare relatively folded along the scorings or creases shown in chain lines into'the form of top or end closure shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and which is generally indicated by the numeral H. The lower edges of the top closure ll meet the upper edges of the body It along lines which are disposed in a common plane parallel to the container bottom, and these lines of intersection are scored orincised, respectively, as indicated at l2, l3, l3, l4 and I! in Figure 1. The numeral l2 indicates a fold line which is largely defined by aseries of incisions l2 disposed end to end and alternating with relatively narrow and weak bridging portions or elements H. The line It is of similar nature, being principally defined by incisions It. The fold line I5 is defined by a simple scoring which facilitates relative folding of the adjacent top and body panels 'but which does not substantially weaken the connection between these panels. The portion of the blank at the scoring l5 constitutes the hinge about which the top closure may be rocked when the remainder of the top closure has been separated from the body.

The fold line indicated at l3 likewise is defined only by scoring, but at the ends of this scored portion are short incised portions, indicated at I 3', the width of the tab being less than that of the container. If desired, the tab and container may be equal in width, thus eliminating incisions l3. Below the scoring I3 is a pull tab which normally lies in a cut-out or notch formed in the upper edge of the adjacent body panel A, the tab 20 being in fact formed during the original fabrication of the blank by almost completely severing the tab from the body panel, the edges of the tab remainin only weakly connected to the edges of the cut-out or notch by a, relatively few bridging portions 2| intermediate the incisions 22. The panel A is further out out at 24 to permit the consumer to insert his fingernail, knife point, fork or the like under the end of the tab 20 and to lift this tab about its hinge line I3, severing the bridging elements 2| and thus initiating the separation of the top closure from the body. Following this, the bridging or connecting portions intermediate the aligned incisions l2, l3 and M are successively broken until the top and body of the container are completely separated, save along the hinge line l5.

v In Figure 3 the top closure II is indicated in full lines in its normal position and in dotted lines in a partially raised position, the entire top being lifted and rocked rearwardly about the web underlying the score line IS. A spoon may be readily inserted through the rectangular open end of the body and as much of the contents removed as may be desired. The top may then be swung downwardly to its original position, thus protecting the remainder of the contents of the package. In order to lock the top in fully closed position, the pull tab may be formed as shown in Figure 4, in which figure a modified form 01' tab is indicated at 26, having an enlargement 26 at its free end which interlocks with the adjacent edges of the notch within which the tab normally lies. The top will naturally tend to remain slightly open after it has once been opened, due to distortion of the paper fibers at the hinge, but the user, by interlocking the tab and body, may maintain the top in tightly closed position. It is clear that the tab may be formed in various other ways in order that this locking or latching function may be conveniently accomplished and, in order to more certainly accomplish this objective, its edges may be bevelled somewhat, as indicated in Figure 5, the bevelled edges of the tab snapping under the undercut edges of the body panel when the tab is pressed into the position shown.

If the body of the container is fabricated of a single ply or sheet or paper, lifting of the tab 26 will permit the contents of the container, if such contents are flowable at all, to escape through the notch uncovered by the removal of the tab. In order to eliminate all possibility of such escape of goods when the tab is lifted, that panel from which thertab is cut is provided with a backing sheet such as indicated at 28, the backing sheet being either a separate paper sheet fastened to the rear face of a body panel and bridging the notch, or cut out in the upper edge of that panel, or an inner wall of the container itself, it being possible to make the container two plies in thickness, at least in part, without difficulty. In the event that it is desired to have the backing sheet integral with the body of the container blank, it may be formed as a lateral extension of the outer body panel A or end flange F, and folded about an intermediate scored portion into proper position, where it is secured by an adhesive. ,If desired, the various panels of the blank shown may be rearranged relatively to each other so that the panel from which the tab is cut may be at the end of the blank in order that a relatively short integrally attached backing sheet or fiap need be employed. A backing sheet such as indicated at as may be readily fastened to the panel from which the tab 20 is struck while the blank is in the form in which it is shown in Figure l,

A container such as that described above, which is to be used in the packaging of food products, is rendered more suitable for such service by a coating of paramn or like substance and such coating material is applied in-such a way that the incisions formed in it are filled and rendered leakproof. The container will be liquidtight when this has been done and the contents protected against contamination.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A sheet paper container of self-supporting type comprising a body portion for the reception of goods and a top portion which constitutes a folded and sealed extension of the body, said portions being connected by a hinge strip integral with both portions and by a series of spaced relatively weak bridging portions which laternate with incisions defining a continuous line of severance terminating at the ends of the hinge strip, the top and body portions being readily separated, save along the hinge strip, by breaking said bridging portions, thus permitting the top to be rocked about said hinge strip and the contained goods exposed, the line of severance defining a tab or tongue formed from portion of the body and integral with the top the free end of which may be conveniently lifted to initiate breaking of the bridging portions and severance of the top from the body except at the hinge.

2. A sheet paper containerof self-supporting type comprising a bod portion for the reception of goods and a top portion which constitutes a folded and sealed extension of the body, said portions being connected by a hinge strip integral with both portions and by a series of spaced relatively weak bridging portions which alternate with incisions defining a continuous line of severance terminating at the ends of the hinge strip, the top and body portions being readily separated, save along the hinge strip, by

breaking said'bridging portions, thus permitting .the top to be rocked about said hinge strip and the contained goods exposed, the line of severance defining a tab or tongue formed from portion of the body and integral with the top the free end of which may be conveniently lifted to initiate breaking of the bridging portions and severance of the top from the body except at the hinge, the bridging portions, connecting tab and body being, collectively, less resistant to breakage than the bridging portions of the remainder of the line of severance, for the purpose set forth.

3. A sheet paper container of self-supporting type comprising a body portion for the reception of goods and a top portion which constitutes a folded and sealed extension of the body, said portions being connected by a hinge strip integral with both portions and by a series of spaced relatively weak bridging portions which alternate with incisions defining a continuous line of severance terminating at the ends of the hinge strip, the top and body portions being readily separated, save along the hinge strip, by breaking said bridging portions, thus permitting the top to berocked about said hinge strip and the contained goods exposed, the line of severance defining a tab or tongue formed from portion of the body and integral with the top the free end of which may be conveniently lifted to initiate breaking of the bridging portions and severance of the top from the body except at the hinge, the body of the container being provided with means to prevent escape of goods through the notch formed therein when the tab is lifted.

4. A sheet paper container of self-supporting type comprising a body portion for the reception of goods and a top portion which constitutes a folded and sealed extension of the body, said portions being connected by a hinge strip integral with both portions and by a series of spaced relatively weak bridging portions which alternate with incisions defining a continuous line of severance terminating at the ends of the hinge strip, the top and body portions being readily separated, save along the hinge strip, by breaking said bridging portions, thus permitting the top to be rocked about said hinge strip and the contained goods exposed, the line of severance defining a tab or tongue formed from portion of the body and integral with the top the free end of which may be conveniently lifted to initiate breaking of the bridging portions and severance of the top from the body except at the hinge, the body of the container having an inner ply or backing sheet secured to the inner surfaces of the margins of the notch formed when the tab is lifted, whereby escape of goods through said notch is prevented.

5. A container comprising a tubular body polygonal in cross-section and a rigid top, each fabricated of a plurality of flat angularly disposed paper panels the adjacent edges of which are connected, one panel of the top being connected to one side panel of the body by an intermediate portion integral with both and which constitutes a hinge, a second panel of the top being provided with a tab depending from its lower edge and the adjacent panel of the body being cut away to receive the said tab, the edge of the tab and the edges of the top being connected to the body, except at the hinge portion, only by relatively weak bridging portions which may be easily broken, to permit'the top to be rocked about said hinge portion to uncover the contained goods.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which the tab and the edges of the recess in the body panel which receives the tab are provided with interlocking portions which prevent removal of the tab from the recess by movement of the tab in the plane of the panel.

7.-A paper container having a body with a flat bottom and a separable top closure which comprises an integral portion of the body and the lower edges of which meet the upper edges of the body in a common horizontal plane, an unweakened web connecting one edge of the top closure to the body, said web comprising a hinge about which the top closure may be rocked when elsewhere separated from the body, relatively weak means connecting other edges of the top closure to the body, a pull tab integral with one edge of the top closure and normally disposed in an upwardly opening notch formed in the body, said tab connected to the body, and ply secured tothe inner surface of the container and bridging said notch, to prevent escape of goods when the tab is lifted.

WILLIAM A. CLANON.

being also weakly a paper sheet or 

